The issues of damp, mould and health have been brought firmly to the forefront recently with the public housing health crisis hitting NSW. Inadequate maintenance, thanks to budget and resources shortfalls, have left tenants living in damp, mouldy, and therefore, unhealthy conditions.
Professional mycologists inspected one apartment of concern, where the mother and daughter had left due to recurring mould. The mould growth found was significant and sufficient to be producing mycotoxins, toxins that have been linked to health problems.
If there is recurring mould in premises, and you or a member of your family has respiratory problems, then sub floor ventilation can indeed have a positive impact because it can reduce humidity, damp, and therefore the growth of mould.
Mould and Health
Are public housing tenants exaggerating their concerns about mouldy premises?
Not according to Dr Sheryl Van Nunen, a Clinical Associate Professor of the Sydney Medical School says asthma can be exacerbated by mould. The presence of mould has been associated with respiratory conditions, such as allergies and asthma for some time, and is a claim supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organisation (WHO)
Information available on the CDC website indicates that people sensitive to mould can experience the symptoms of:
* Blocked sinuses,
* Irritated eyes,
* Wheezing &/or
* Skin irritations.
They also advise that symptoms were linked to indoor exposure to mould in a 2004 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report.
WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: ‘Dampness and Mould’ WHO guidelines were released in 2009, and included a comprehensive review of studies looking at associations between indoor damp, mould and health problems. Sufficient evidence of an association between exacerbated asthma symptoms, upper respiratory tract symptoms, coughing and wheezing were found and indoor dampness related agents, like moulds to warrant the release of guidelines.
WHO guidelines refer also to ventilation as a means to reduce dampness and therefore mould, because mould flourishes in warm, damp conditions.
Mould Growth
Moulds are virtually ubiquitous and can be found indoors and out. They grow best in warm, humid conditions, which is why home ventilation is important in eliminating mould.
The suggestions to minimise mould growth include keeping humidity below 50%. Sydney-siders, including local residents here on the Northern Beaches, may scoff at this suggestion with their humid, subtropical climate. How often is the humidity in Sydney over 50%? Almost on average. Sydney is a perfect place for mould with wet, warm conditions and humidity levels.
What Can You Do To Minimise Mould Growth in the Home?
It is not only public housing properties in NSW that suffer from damp or mould. It is simply easier for most private home owners to do something about damp and mould – after all, they often don’t have the budget restrictions and resource allocation limitations of public housing.
The key to minimising mould does not lie in the use of expensive cleaners however, it is in moisture reduction. Adequate sub-floor ventilation should therefore be a priority for home owners – especially if any occupants have respiratory problems.
Homes are usually built with vents that allow for the flow-through of air. In Sydney this will allow air circulation, but with high humidity in the air, it will do little to fix the problem of mould, or the potential for mould growth in the home.
Sub floor ventilation systems are designed to expel the humid air from homes via a fan and external vent system. By creating an effective air exchange in the sub floor area of the home, air quality, humidity and other moisture based problems are reduced.
Our team at Everest Electrical on Sydney’s Northern Beaches believe that this is particularly important, because in the sub floor area poor ventilation can cause more than just issues with damp and mould growth. Both dampness and the growth of mould can create issues with timber structures thereby creating favourable conditions for termites.
We Need Mould, Just Not In The Home
It should be remembered that mould plays an important role in our natural environment – without it organic matter would not be broken down – but it has no place in our homes.
The most efficient way to reduce the humidity below your home, and therefore overcome mould-associated health issues, is through the use of a sub floor ventilation system.
Contact us at Everest Electrical to discuss whether under floor ventilation is right for you.